Ischemic colitis

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Digestive system organs

Ischemic colitis is a sudden swelling (inflammation) of part of the large intestine (colon) that occurs when there is a temporary loss of, or reduction in, blood flow to the colon.

Colonic ischemia

Ischemic colitis mainly affects people over 50. Many of them have a history of peripheral vascular disease.

Other risk factors include:

• Atrial fibrillation
• Blockage of the large bowel
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Low blood pressure
• Past aortic surgery in which damage occurred to the artery that supplies the colon
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Use of medications that cause constipation

Review Date: 01/20/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Mediicne, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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